The sixth annual Atlantic Horse Fair took place this past weekend (April 19-21) at the Nova Scotia Exhibition Grounds in Truro, Nova Scotia.
Even though this was the sixth edition, it marked the first time standardbreds took a leading role in the weekend festivities.
With Truro Raceway's opening day taking place on April 21, the Truro Harness Horse Owners Association took the opportunity of having the horse fair in their back yard to do some free advertising for live racing and to showcase the standardbred breed. Teaming up with the Maritime Standardbred Pleasure Horse Association, demonstrations were conducted to show how versatile standardbred horses at both driving and riding.
Current racehorse Woodmere Real Drop with owner/trainer/driver Ben Hollingsworth competed in a driving demo with the Nova Scotia Driving Association in which Hollingsworth drove his mare through a marked course in the show ring. After the driving demo, Hollingsworth used his teaching skills from working with the Harness Horse Youth Foundation to do a harnessing demo in front of a large crowd. He talked his way through the harnessing of a standardbred while describing the differences between a trotter and pacer and why standardbreds wear as much gear as they do.
Woodmere Real Drop was joined by retired racehorse Beer Friday, who entered the ring with MSPHA coordinator Jackie Moore riding. Tacked up in western pleasure tack, Beer Friday jogged around the ring looking just like a western pleasure horse. She showed great ability and just how versatile the breed can be as a riding horse.
Comparing a current and former standardbred helped to raise awareness for MSPHA re-homing projects while also reminding people that live racing at Truro Raceway occurs every Sunday all summer long.
(Left: Jackie Moore rides Beer Friday; Right: Pam Moorse holds Woodmere Real Drop while Ben Hollingsworth talks his way through the harnessing process.)
(THHOA)